Impacto de los factores socioeconómicos y culturales en el estado nutricional del adulto mayor, que acude al Centro de Salud el Valle. Cuenca 2016

Abstract

Background: The aging process manifests a number of changes in the body as anatomical, hormonal, functional, causing imbalance of various organs and systems (1); coupled with poor socio-economic and cultural factors, progressively decreases their quality of life, thus increasing the risk of malnutrition (2)(3).

Objective: To determine the impact of those factors socio-economic and cultural in the nutritional status of them elderly, who came to “El Valle” Health Center. Cuenca 2016.

Methodology: A descriptive quantitative research was carried out, a sample of 159 older adults was used, as a technique was used a survey elaborated by the authors and as an instrument the scale of assessment Mini Nutritional Assessment. The collection and organization of the information was done through the program SPSS version 22 and Microsoft Excel and presented in descriptive tables.

Conclusion: Of the 159 older adults, 64 users met the necessary score to apply the global MNA nutritional assessment scale. It was established that the prevalence of malnutrition was 9.4% and 62.5% presented a risk of malnutrition. Therefore, we determined that all socioeconomic factors directly influence nutritional status, since 70.3% of the Older adults studied earn a low monthly income of between 0-99 dollars; and 78.1% had incomplete primary school education. The cultural influence in nutritional status is not statistically related